So for this post, I am focusing on the streets, architecture and alleys of France. Some of these photos are actually taken in Monaco, but I am going to put them in France for today 🙂 Warning there are a ton of photos in this post!

Did you spot all the Roman buildings in this post? The Romans were very busy when they were in France many centuries ago. And I thought I’d include this little video of us driving through Provence. Click on the link below to watch.

Hi, I’m back! Sorry for the long absence but I was travelling in Europe. Doesn’t that sound posh, I was being terribly spoiled by my hubby for my upcoming birthday. And I enjoyed every moment. Travel is so inspiring. I thought I’d share some photos that I took on my trip of some absolutely stunning doors. It is one of my passions, finding incredibly amazing doors and doorways.

So here we go to France!

I realize this first one isn’t exactly a door but is a great archway don’t you think. I am a sucker for all that age and texture.

Also please excuse all the parked cars in the photos, it is virtually impossible to get a photo of a doorway in France or Europe without a car or motorcycle parked in front of it.

I think this one above is my favourite! I love the carvings and those faces in the stonework above the door along with the greenery and ironwork are just spectacular!

I also realize this one below is not technically a door but it’s such a great entrance I couldn’t resist. Can you imagine coming home from work everyday to THAT?

This one above doesn’t quite give you the warm and fuzzy welcoming vibe, does it? It was in a castle and I believe, meant to scare anyone away from knocking or using a battering ram.

A few weeks ago, my hubby and I were in Charleston, South Carolina. I had not been to Southern Carolina before and I had always imagined it as a gentile, historical, civilized place and I was not disappointed….Mint Julips anyone? The weather was perfect, sunny, warm and with a gentle breeze.

I’ll be doing a few posts on Charleston as it would make one very looooonnnnng post if I included everything in one. As usual, I took many architectural photos of homes and the iron work that is all over Charleston, so for this post I’ll be focusing on the beautiful ironwork that is all over the city.

Lots of it was done by the blacksmith and iron work artist, Philip Simmons. Unfortunately, many of the original iron work was melted during the War between the States (as the Civil War is referred to in Charleston).

There’s a definite European feel to Charleston, with their quaint little alleyways and cobblestone streets. I also had a strong sense of deja vu, since sometimes I felt like I was back in New Orleans.

This was an exterior bar at the back of a restaurant that was so charming in it’s use of salvaged materials, that I just had to take a picture. Note the various pieces of iron work that are placed on the face of the bar. Each is so intricate and beautiful on their own.

This grill below was in the middle of a large hedge that bordered a property. It looks very old to me.

This very fancy and scrolly (is that a word?) ironwork was on a very old theatre (sorry forgot the name) in the city centre.

The gated entrance to a private residence from their car port. And below, a gated side garden on one of the large homes that we toured past.

Families’ mottos were often included in the iron work gates and grills, to show what their business was. For example,the tobacconist would have a pipe in his gate. Unfortunately, my photo of this particular gate did not turn out…I hate that.